Bruxism
Bruxism is characterised by the clenching/grinding of the teeth due to repetitive jaw-muscle activity and/or bracing and thrusting of the mandible.
Bruxism
Bruxism is characterised by the clenching/grinding of the teeth due to repetitive jaw-muscle activity and/or bracing and thrusting of the mandible.
Bruxism can occur during sleep (known as sleep bruxism) or wakefulness (awake bruxism)
Although there is no real consensus about the definition and diagnostics of bruxism, it has been associated with a number of clinical problems including oral and facial pain, severe tooth wear and failure of dental restorations. Bruxism is a vast area of interest for medicine and dental clinicians, and yet, due to the multiple psychological, neurological and dental components involved in its diagnosis, there is no clear way to manage it nor prevent it.
But not everything is lost. Although finding the source of this problem is challenging, bruxism secondary effects on your teeth, muscles, and joints can be controlled and managed by your dentist after completing a full oral examination. So, book an appointment now!
Causes.
Bruxism is likely to be a complex and multifactorial disorder. Specifically, there are several possible reasons as to why people clench their teeth:
Anatomic factors: extracted teeth without replacement develop in dental malocclusions, tilted and rotated teeth, which change the way you bite. Consequently, the distribution of the occlusal forces will also vary, and produces hyperactivity of your chewing muscles, which increases their tone and strength. Increased muscular strength will overload your teeth and produce severe wear.
Factors controlled by the central nervous system: stress, anxiety or sleep disorders like sleep apnoea have also been recognised as causes of bruxism.
Lifestyle factors: excessive caffeine or alcohol intake, heavy smoking, medications or illicit drugs.
Comorbidities like epilepsy or reflux disorders are also risk factors contributing to bruxism.
Signs and symptoms
To the majority of people, bruxism is an unconscious habit. Hence, it is difficult to recognise whether you have it or not. Some people are aware of being bruxists because their partner or relatives tell them they clench or grind their teeth at night. Yes, it can be as hard and loud to mess with your and their sleep. But while night bruxers can be very noisy, awake bruxers tend to produce unconscious or conscious static clenching without making any sounds.
You can also tell you are a grinder if
- You feel dental sensitivity when taking cold or acidic beverages or foods.
- Wake up with feeling fatigue on your face, neck or back.
- You experience difficulties opening your mouth.
Also, your dentist will notice your enamel is worn down in some areas, or you have small fractures or infractions around your gums.
Diagnosis and treatment
Bruxism is actually easy to diagnose. The challenging part is to find the source of the problem and therefore cure it. Your dentist will rely on a very detailed description of your symptoms and habits, followed by a full clinical examination searching for clinical signs. This would help in assessing the probable causes of your problem so that the treatment can be adequate and more effective.
If the problem is coming from a local source (dental malpositions, muscle hyperactivity, premature contacts, missing teeth), some of the interventions intended to manage it can go from a full mouth rehabilitation, orthodontics, or custom made splints (see more information about mouthguards here). Custom made splints or mouth guards are meant to prevent severe teeth wear, they are not a cure for bruxism.
In more severe cases, when bruxism is coming from a central source (central nervous system), your dentist can also rely on physiotherapists to help decrease muscle spasms, or psychologists to help patients manage stress and anxiety disorders. Other alternative therapies can include botox therapy to decrease muscle hyperactivity, medications to regulate sleep. These last ones are carried on along other medical and dental disciplines and specialists, when the diagnosis has been made, your dentist can refer you if needed.
Managing bruxism is not a straightforward procedure. As difficult as it is to find the cause of severe grinding and clenching, it is even more difficult to treat it. The treatment will be often focused on managing the symptoms (muscle soreness, tooth sensitivity, severe wear) rather than on finding a full cure for it. This is due to the complex nature of bruxism, and the number of psychological and central nervous system issues involved.
References
- Lobbezoo, F., Ahlberg, J., Raphael, K. G., Wetselaar, P., Glaros, A. G., Kato, T., Santiago, V., Winocur, E., De Laat, A., De Leeuw, R., Koyano, K., Lavigne, G. J., Svensson, P., & Manfredini, D. (2018). International consensus on the assessment of bruxism: Report of a work in progress. Journal of oral rehabilitation, 45(11), 837–844. https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.12663
- Beddis, H., Pemberton, M. & Davies, S. Sleep bruxism: an overview for clinicians. Br Dent J 225, 497–501 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.757
Broken Tooth
Bruxism
Bruxism is characterised by the clenching/grinding of the teeth due to repetitive jaw-muscle activity
Cracked Tooth Syndrome
A broken tooth that doesn’t necessarily look broken.
Crowded Teeth
Dead Tooth
It may surprise you, but teeth do actually have living tissues.
Dental Anxiety
Dental Erosion
Dental erosion can be defined as the irreversible loss of tooth enamel caused by acids without involving bacteria.
Dry Socket
Dry socket also known as Alveolar Osteitis, is a common complication associated with tooth extractions.
Failing Old Silver Filling
Older filling also known as amalgam filling, have been used over years and are still being used today.
Gingivitis
In simpler terms, it is an inflammatory disease of the gingiva.
Gum Disease
Gum Recession
Gum recession occurs when the tissues around the teeth start to recede/pull back.
Halitosis
Halitosis is an unpleasant odour emitted from the mouth.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth, are located at the back of the mouth
Missing Teeth
Sensitive Teeth
A common dental condition that involves discomfort and pain when exposed to certain foods and temperatures.
Snoring
A partially obstructed airway during sleep causes parts of the throat or nose to vibrate as the air passes through a narrowed airway.
TMJ Dysfunction
Temporomandibular joint dysfunctions are a group of disorders affecting the masticatory system.
Tooth Brush Abrasion
Tooth brush abrasion is the most common cause of dental abrasion.
Tooth Decay
Toothache
Toothache, or dental pain, is the most frequent oral pathology
Yellow / Discoloured Teeth
Tooth discoloration/yellow tooth is an abnormal colour of the tooth, is one of the common dental conditions for any age grouped people.
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